Rating: 
Summary: The role of memory
Review: As a confirmed Anglophile and fan of anything relating to England, the concept of this book caught my attention. An entrepenuer wants to locate all of England's tourist attractions onto the Isle of Wight in an attempt to create an idealized England. Why should tourists have to travel all around the nation when they can visit every attraction and quintessential moment of history in one location? (Even if those attractions aren't necessarily the originals.)Barnes' narrative begins with the memories of its main character Martha as she tries to figure out the truth and the lies of one's memory. This introductory chapter is a well-written examination into how we construct the memories of our youth. The novel then tries to examine how we construct the memories of our history and national identity. Martha works for Sir Jack Pitman and helps him develop his idea of the perfect England. They renovate the Isle of Wight to include attractions such as Big Ben, the Tower of London and a scaled down Buckingham Palace, complete with King and Queen. There are, of course, cream teas and various pubs, along with a crew of actors who re-enact the Battle of Britain, Robin Hood and his Merrie Men and other famous acts of history that are essential to one's notion of what makes England, England. Yet things are not perfect on this idealized island that becomes known as England, England. While tourism booms on the island, Old England falls apart with its main industry gone. Barnes examines what happens to memory when it is molded to fit expectations instead of historical accurracy. While at times uneven, and with a few storylines that seem unnecessary, "England, England" succeeds in its examination of the role memory plays in each of our lives, and in the shaping of our past and present.
Rating:
Summary: The role of memory
Review: As a confirmed Anglophile and fan of anything relating to England, the concept of this book caught my attention. An entrepenuer wants to locate all of England's tourist attractions onto the Isle of Wight in an attempt to create an idealized England. Why should tourists have to travel all around the nation when they can visit every attraction and quintessential moment of history in one location? (Even if those attractions aren't necessarily the originals.) Barnes' narrative begins with the memories of its main character Martha as she tries to figure out the truth and the lies of one's memory. This introductory chapter is a well-written examination into how we construct the memories of our youth. The novel then tries to examine how we construct the memories of our history and national identity. Martha works for Sir Jack Pitman and helps him develop his idea of the perfect England. They renovate the Isle of Wight to include attractions such as Big Ben, the Tower of London and a scaled down Buckingham Palace, complete with King and Queen. There are, of course, cream teas and various pubs, along with a crew of actors who re-enact the Battle of Britain, Robin Hood and his Merrie Men and other famous acts of history that are essential to one's notion of what makes England, England. Yet things are not perfect on this idealized island that becomes known as England, England. While tourism booms on the island, Old England falls apart with its main industry gone. Barnes examines what happens to memory when it is molded to fit expectations instead of historical accurracy. While at times uneven, and with a few storylines that seem unnecessary, "England, England" succeeds in its examination of the role memory plays in each of our lives, and in the shaping of our past and present.
Rating:
Summary: All for money
Review: England is in decline and rather than deal with reality, Sir Jack Pitman (who appears to me to be based on Robert Maxwell) decides to take over the Isle of Wight and create a Disney style England as an independent state. The state of course is for tourists and the pursuit of money, offering the complete England in a sanitised and scaled down version with first class accomodation and no need to travel around to see it.
During the course of the book Sir Jack has the upper hand, loses it through blackmail, is humiliated and then gains it again through bribery, all in hilarious fashion.
Barnes utilizes dry wit and satire most effectively to tell his tale, exposing powerful corporate heads as meglomaniacs, amoral and of course corrupt beings with no soul. Nothing much new in that of course, except for the exceptional skill that Barnes employs doing so.
However as you move through the book you begin to compare the modern high speed world with a now bygone simple age. I found the comparison compelling and while I am not prepared to give up my computer and flat screen tv I confess to being a little wistful about a slower and simpler life.
I have no hesitation in recommending Mr Barnes, give him a try and I don't think you will regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing and worth reading (unless you're English!)
Review: I bought England, England after watching an interview with Julian Barnes on French television. The commentator made it clear that, in her view, the English had received the book badly, being upset that somebody could mock their monarchy and their traditions. Being Manx (which is British, but NOT English) I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book, and sat feeling smug as the postman arrived. I wasn't disappointed. Barnes lets rip at commercialisation, and at the outdated English acceptance of things they feel to be beyond their control. He portrays England as a Disneyland, with the prince (guess which one!) as one of the buffoon Mickey Mouse characters. Good for him - he hit that one right on the nose! Whether or not the English didn't like England, England, I can't say (there are plenty of non-Monarchists over there), but the book was a worthy read and kept me giggling and guffawing for some days. Barnes' characterizations are somewhat mixed (some good, some less so) but his portrayal of 'Sir Jack' makes up for any shortcomings in that particular department.
Rating: 
Summary: Good idea, flawed execution
Review: I enjoyed the premise of the book, given that England seems to be well on its way to becoming one big theme park, almost overflowing with so-called "experiences" to milk tourists. But Barnes doesn't quite deliver on the promise, although the writing is good and the book has its funny moments. I enjoyed the list of essential English traits and objects- only notable ommission was the Beatles (if I remember correctly). Having said this, the book is still worth reading, although I enjoyed The History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters more.
Rating:
Summary: Good idea, flawed execution
Review: I enjoyed the premise of the book, given that England seems to be well on its way to becoming one big theme park, almost overflowing with so-called "experiences" to milk tourists. But Barnes doesn't quite deliver on the promise, although the writing is good and the book has its funny moments. I enjoyed the list of essential English traits and objects- only notable ommission was the Beatles (if I remember correctly). Having said this, the book is still worth reading, although I enjoyed The History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters more.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining vision of capitalism and marketing!
Review: I would view this book like a sandwich with bread that has become a bit stale. Cut off the edges and you have a darn good meal. The meat of this novel is the center sections, surrounded on either side with sections of a very different character. It is in this center section that we are taken to the real heart of this book: a send up of our 20th/21st century need to repackage and remarket our world. Disney beware...this novel is a view into your fake heart, a clear vision of Marx's belief that capitalism will lead to the commodification everything. If your even an armchair cynic, you will find the heart of this book entertaining and enlightening. Just make sure you push through those 1st 20 pages. They are good, but not nearly as engaging as the middle of the book. Bon appetit!
Rating:
Summary: A utopia/dystopia unto itself
Review: This is my first trip through Barnes' oeuvre. I arrived believing him to be a more focussed but less talented and bitter version of Martin Amis. For once, the advanced hype was right. Not that being a low-rent Amis clone is anything to be ashamed of (and he's not really that, but it makes for an easy analogy), for Amis sets the bar so high, that anyone falling just short is really doing something quite good. Barnes is at that. The book begins with a wonderful, almost tangential look at the childhood of our "heroine", Martha Cochrane. This section could have been set off by itself, and turned into a ripping good short story. We see her run-ins with a virtuoso bean grower at the county fair, a touching sequence where her Dad teases her by hiding one piece of a puzzle she's working on (it's a map of England, natch), and then an even more touching scene with her mother after said Dad has skipped town without a word. This section, while standing firmly on its own, also nicely sets up the themes of the rest of the book. And that rest of the book is dominated by one Sir Jack Pitman, deity of Multi-national Corporation Pitco, raving patriot, and mastermind behind the Island of the book's title. Jack is a wonderful creation, all brash ego and blowhard posturing. He is at once supremely self-aware, and easily manipulated by his underlings, whom all know how to subtly push his buttons to give him what he wants and to get what they want. Witness him question his right hand man, a yes-man to the core, on Sir Jack's distaste for yes-man. The right hand man knows better and answers all questions in the negative. Sir Jack, bless his heart, chuckles, for he knows he's being had and adores the effort. The middle section, and to a lesser degree the end, functions as a great piece of utopia/dystopia literature. Utopia, for the Island version of England Pitco has created is meant to be ideal; the perfect tourist locale, where all the tourist sights and attractions you want to see are within walking distance of each other. Dystopia, for the government and the monarchy, which in theory should look out for the rights of its citizens, has been replaced by a corporation, which in theory looks out for no other interests but its own ("[the Island is] a locus of uncluttered supply and demand... to gladden the heart of Adam Smith"). I am a sucker for utopias and dystopias (Orwell's "1984"; Huxley's "Brave New World"; Thomas More's "Utopia"; Samuel Butler's "Erewhon"), and Barnes doesn't disappoint with his creation of England's more efficient doppelganger. It's Old England crossed with Disneyland, wherein Anglo stuffiness is satired alongside North American intolerance. Capitalism, the monarchy, historical revisionism, and human all nature all take their turn through the ringer of this simulacrum. My one complaint, and this is not Barnes' fault but my own, is that the story was sometimes too Anglo-centric. I suppose someone with a greater knowledge of English customs and history will appreciate the jokes here more than I did. Still, Barnes' provided enough for even I to enjoy. On top of (or rather underneath) all this England bashing ("from now on, only those with an active love of discomfort and necrophiliac taste for the antique need venture there"), Barnes also throws in an effective little love story. Martha and Paul (who's employed as Sir Jack's "ideas catcher") meet, fall in love, and go through tumultuous times as they try to keep their professional and private lives separate. The questions each pose to the other, and to themselves, are frank, sincere, and provocative. Each is insecure for various reasons, and Barnes probes these problems effectively. The epilogue chapter, while wondrously biting, cynical, and skeptical about the fate of England if things keep going as they are, was not as effective. Basically, Barnes scraps the tone and style of the rest of the book, and presents us with a rambling, stream-of-conscience tour through England, England's aftermath. I could see what Barnes was trying to do; I just didn't enjoy it. In the preceding chapters I was with him all the way, marveling at his talent for prose and ideas, and enjoying the heck out of both.
Rating:
Summary: Cynical AND fun AND thought-provoking
Review: This novel puts more than a few interesting ideas on the table (not just the obvious central ones mind you) and then investigates one persons reaction to history and ageing. I found it an increasingly poignant book which spoke to me in a few ways - the downshifter in me anyway... Some of the twists are a little far-fetched or hypereal at best but although there are admittedly a lot of English references the key themes will be totally accessible to any internationally minded citizen.
An intriguing post-modern tale.
TNP...
Rating: 
Summary: HIGHLY ENTERTAINING READING
Review: Unfailingly entertaining British novelist Julian Barnes presents a hilarious premise in his eighth novel - what would happen if a mega rich prankster were to turn England into a theme park? This mischievous satire presents an England on the brink of economic disaster, thus willing to go along with the splendiferous plot of Sir Jack Pitman who wants to recreate familiar historical places and scenes. The achievement of this goal may leave one wondering what is real and what is not.
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